Coronary Heart Disease and its Prevention

What is Coronary Heart Disease?

Heart disease or in medical terms called coronary heart disease is a condition that occurs when the main blood vessels that supply blood to the heart (coronary blood vessels) are damaged. Cholesterol deposits in the blood vessels and the inflammatory process are thought to be the cause of this disease.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) occurs when the coronary arteries (the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle) are blocked by fatty substances called plaques or atheroma. This plaque builds up gradually on the inner walls of the arteries, which eventually makes the arteries narrow. This narrowing process is known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can even occur at a young age, and becomes more severe when a person reaches middle age.

If the arteries are really narrow, the blood supply to the heart muscle begins to decrease. This condition can cause angina-like symptoms (chest pain). If the arteries have really narrowed and blocked the blood supply to the heart, then a heart attack occurs.

Causes of Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary arteries can be narrowed or blocked by plaque buildup on the artery walls. Plaque is made of excess cholesterol and other substances that float through the bloodstream, such as inflamed cells, protein and calcium. Over time, plaque will grow to different sizes. 

When the hard exterior of the plaque is cracked or torn, platelets (disc-shaped particles in the blood that help blood clot) will come to the area and form a blood clot around the plaque. This causes the arteries to narrow and there is less room for blood to flow through the arteries. This process of plaque buildup in the arteries is called atherosclerosis, which is also known as “hardening of the arteries”.

Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors

1. Age

Age is a very influential factor on the incidence of CHD, especially on the occurrence of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. This coronary artery channel can be likened to a plumbing pipe, the older it is, the more likely it is to build up crust on its walls, which can disrupt the flow of water in the pipe.

2. The gender

Men have a higher risk than women, this is related to the hormone estrogen which is protective against atherosclerosis. After menopause the risk will increase because the amount of the hormone estrogen begins to decrease.

3. Family history

A family history of hyperlipidemia or heart disease will increase the risk of developing CHD, especially for those whose family has the disease at an early age (less than 55 years).

4. Race

The white race is more at risk of developing CHD than the black race

5. Hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia is a disease that results in increased levels of fat (cholesterol, triglycerides, or both) in the blood as a manifestation of metabolic disorders or fat/lipid transport. Lipid or fat is a substance that is rich in energy, which serves as the main source in metabolic processes

6. Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a risk factor for CHD if blood glucose levels rise, especially if it lasts for a long time because blood sugar (glucose) can be toxic to the body, including the cardiovascular system. Diabetic patients tend to experience heart problems at a young age. Uncontrolled diabetes with high glucose levels in the blood tends to play a role in raising cholesterol levels. This vascular degenerative process and abnormal fat metabolism play a role in the growth of atheroma so that the arteries become narrow (atherosclerosis).

7. Hypertension

The risk of heart and blood vessel disease increases as blood pressure increases. The results showed that systolic blood pressure of 130-139 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure of 85-89 mmHg would increase the risk of heart and blood vessel disease by 2 times compared to blood pressure of less than 120 per 80 mmHg.

8. Obesity

Obesity can damage several systems in the body's organs. The heart works harder in people who are obese, and blood volume and blood pressure also increase. Significant weight loss will affect the decrease in cholesterol levels that contribute to fat accumulation in patients with CHD.

9. Smoking habit

Smokers have two to three times the risk of dying from CHD compared to non-smokers. Smoking triggers the emergence of free radicals which result in faster damage to blood vessel walls. Carbon monoxide can cause arterial tissue hypoxia, nicotine causes catecholamine mobilization which can increase platelet reaction and cause damage to arterial walls. Meanwhile, tobacco glycoproteins can cause hypersensitivity reactions in arterial walls.

Prevention Coronary heart disease

Before you have coronary heart disease, you should arrange steps to prevent coronary heart disease. You can do simple tips from the Indonesian Heart Foundation so you don't get coronary heart disease, here are the descriptions:

1.    What should be done first to prevent coronary heart disease, check your blood pressure regularly. This will allow you to control your blood pressure

2.    Second, try not to smoke. Stop smoking, if you are a heavy smoker and feel you can't do it, then reduce gradually the number of cigarettes you smoke. And do not occasionally inhale cigarette smoke from other smokers, because cigarette smoke contains very dangerous toxins

3.    Check your blood glucose levels, whether you have diabetes or not, because diabetes is usually a stairway to coronary heart disease.

4.    Maintaining ideal body shape, coronary heart disease usually attacks people who are overweight or obese. Therefore, maintaining an ideal body weight is important.

5.    Do a low cholesterol diet and avoid foods that have saturated fat levels.

6.    Think positive and avoid stress or excessive feelings of anxiety. You can do relaxation or a relaxing program so you don't feel these feelings.

7.    Do regular exercise, no need for strenuous or extreme exercise. You can take a morning walk or jog in the morning, take advantage of the sun at 6-8 am, because it contains Far Infra Red Rays, do it at least three times a week, no need to walk for long, at least 30 minutes been able to help you.

8.    You should also have regular check-ups to see how you are progressing. So that you can take the next step.

9.    Eat a healthy diet, which contains omega 3 and fiber in abundance. Vegetables and fruit will improve your digestive tract.

10. Start improving your lifestyle to be healthier, don't eat too many preservatives, avoid packaged foods.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ø  Adams, Robert, et al. 2009. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics. Journal of The American Heart Association.

Ø  Indonesian Ministry of Health. 2009. Guidelines for Risk Control of Heart and Blood Vessel Diseases. Edition I

Ø  Kusmana & Moechtar . 1996. Pathophysiology of Coronary Heart Disease. Jakarta: FKUI

Ø  Suharto, Imam. 2000. Prevention and Healing of Coronary Heart Disease. Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Ø  http://esauin.jkt.com/2013/09/epidemiologi-disease-jantung-koroner.html?m=1

Ø  http://cardiaccentre.com.sg/services_coronary_artery-htm

Ø  http://www.inaheart.or.id/article/145-10-tips-simple-prevent-heart-coronary